Mix bright ideas with smart design and give a benchtop the look of stainless steel with paint and varnish.

You've blown most of the budget on new appliances but you still want to make over your kitchen? Get creative! Better Homes and Gardens TV, with just a little spare change from the owners, turned a poorly planned, dull old kitchen (below) into a user friendly, exciting new workspace (above).

Before

Kitchen design depends more on the basic layout than fancy fittings and materials. Whether you start with a U-shaped, L-shaped or galley-style kitchen, follow this basic rule: create a work triangle between the sink, stove and fridge, with preparation space between. This will reduce the amount of running around the kitchen you do when preparing, cooking and clearing each meal.

This kitchen lacked adequate bench space close to the work triangle. A mobile island made from a cupboard unit, a piece of benchtop and lockable castors provides an extra work surface and valuable storage. It can be used in the middle of the kitchen or stored against a wall.

This unit cost $280 to make and paint.

With the layout problems solved, the decorating can begin.

Walls

Prepare by washing with sugar soap, then fill and sand where necessary. Use an enamel satin finish paint to make cleaning kitchen grime easier.

Benchtops

Get the look of stainless steel with paint and varnish!

Here's how:
Step 1 Prepare the existing laminate surface by sanding with fine sandpaper.
Step 2 Apply a coat of bonding medium and allow to dry.
Step 3 Apply two coats of grey low-sheen acrylic paint. Lightly sand and allow to dry between coats.
Step 4 Paint on silver metallic glaze and, while still wet, stipple with a large stipple brush to create the stainless steel effect.
Step 5 Leave to dry, then finish with three coats of heavy duty gloss varnish.

Cupboard doors

To paint over the old timber doors, first remove the handles, give the timber a light sand, dust, then apply a coat of paint. Add new brushed-silver handles to complete.

Tiles

Cut thin fibro sheeting to cover the existing tiled areas. Glue and screw these sheets over the tiles to give your new tiles a good surface to which to adhere.

To create our look, visit your local tile supplier and ask if they have discontinued colours in any tile range. Then simply pick a selection of different coloured tiles from the same range.

Measure your wall and ask the supplier to work out the quantity required.

Use tile adhesive to fix the new tiles in place and tile spacers to ensure neat placement. Once dry, rub in mould-resistant tile grout, leave a few minutes, then wipe off excess with a damp sponge.

Complementing the fabulous new Bosch stainless steel appliances, this bold makeover succeeds by following good kitchen design, a clever paint technique and a brazen mix of strong colour.

Product info:
Paint: Taubmans 13 16 86.
Paint finish on benchtop: Magic Effects 1800 033 431.
Tiles: Tilecraft ceramics 1300 308 453.
Mobile workbench components: IKEA (02) 9418 2744.